The Caya Grandi in Oranjestad, which in the past was the beating heart of our island and a meeting point for both adults and school children, now faces a deep identity crisis. The transformation that took place resulted in a sharp contrast to the essence of Aruba, where the introduction of foreign elements—such as non-native palm trees, paving systems that are not part of our road tradition, and a tram system that does not reflect Aruban culture—destroyed the natural dynamics of our city center.
A fantasy versus cultural reality The decisions made in the past, under the AVP government, have been labeled a “fantasy” that does not align with the heart of the people. The effort to impose a foreign aesthetic dealt a severe blow to local merchants and broke the cultural bond that the street represented. The question resonating in our society today is: who really benefited economically from this renovation process?, especially considering that the results continue to show that this vision is not part of the Aruban identity.
The failure of revitalization efforts Over the years, many efforts have been made to bring life back to Caya Grandi:
• Different tourism organizations have tried their best to attract visitors, but without results.
• Local merchants, on their own, invested effort and resources to save their businesses, but their efforts did not succeed.
• Different governments have also tried to implement projects, but all have fallen short of the expected success.
These signs indicate that the original decisions of the past were not the right choice and that there is a persistence in maintaining a model that the Aruban community never accepted as its own.
Economic stability: The role of the local vs. the tourist A fundamental error in the current management is the exclusive focus on the tourist as the only economic engine. Although the tourist brings in many dollars, their visit is a “one-off” and they are not the basis of our complete economic stability. The truth is that real stability comes from the locals who live on the island. It is the well-being and satisfaction of the people that creates the positivity necessary to attract tourism in a sustainable way; without the local, there is no tourist.
Unfortunately, the government continues to persist in a direction contrary to the will of the people. This persistence by the government against the strength of the Aruban society has created a gap where the “fantasy” of the Caya Grandi does not live in the heart of the Aruban. This struggle becomes a reflection of the strength of our society, which demands a city center that truly represents what it means to be from Aruba.